The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter
MUTARE City Council has finally admitted failure to fund Mutare City Rovers after the local authority acceded to sell the club franchise to Bantu African Resources, Post Sport has learnt.
Council was approached by Bantu African Resources as the later expressed their desire to purchase City Rovers’ franchise and the local authority has accepted the proposal hence discussion on modalities are now underway.
Mutare City Council spokesperson Spren Mutiwi confirmed that the local authority accepted the offer by Bantu to purchase Mutare City Rovers football club.
He said the two parties agreed that the team will not shift base and that the resources from the sale of the franchise will be channelled towards the rehabilitation of the sporting facilities and football development at grass roots level.
“Council at its 1257 ordinary full council meeting accepted the offer by Bantu to purchase Mutare City Rovers football club premier franchise on the following conditions.
“Bantu Africa Resources will not relocate the team elsewhere. The team shall remain in Mutare. They will inherit the club’s debts and outstanding wages and salaries and that council will set up a negotiating committee.
“That the proceeds for the sale of the club be used towards the rehabilitation of the sporting facilities and football development at grass roots level,” wrote Mutiwi.
The development is likely to see Mutare City Rovers technical team working overtime in the next few days given that they would need to bolster their squad using the July transfer window which closes this month end.
Not much is known about Bantu African Resources except that they are the same firm that used to sponsor former Premiership Bulawayo outfit Bantu Rovers.
Efforts to get a comment from the official who was representing Bantu African Resources Tawanda Mariga were fruitless as he refused to make any comment to the Press.
“I am sorry I cannot make any comment,” said Mariga on Wednesday afternoon.
Although no official comment could be obtained last month when this newspaper broke the story about the intended sale Mutare City Rovers FC, the move has finally come to fruition.
The move to sell the Mutare City Rovers franchise is expected to ease financial woes for the basement outfit.
Gusha Bhora have been struggling to find their feet in the ongoing 2018 Castle Lager Premiership season where they are at the bottom of the log standings.
Lack of adequate financial resources after Mutare City Council, the club owners, availed a paltry $150 000 for the entire season, has seen the team failing to pay salaries and bonuses to players and coaches on time. Industrial action by players had become the order of the day as players protested against non payment of their dues leading to poor results on the field of play.
Saturday: Harare City FC v Chapungu FC (Rufaro Stadium 1500hrs ZTV); Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Bulawayo City FC (Luveve Stadium); FC Platinum v Caps United FC (Mandava Stadium); Black Rhinos FC v Yadah FC (National Sports Stadium); Nichrut FC v Shabanie Mine FC (Ascot Stadium):
Sunday: Dynamos FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC (Rufaro Stadium 1500hrs ZTV); Herentals FC v ZPC Kariba FC (National Sports Stadium); Triangle United FC v Highlanders FC (Gibbo Stadium); Mutare City Rovers FC v Chicken Inn FC (Vengere Stadium):
